Gallery, bike shop settle into their new homes

After 25 years in the same location, the Grand Frame & Gallery in Arlington Heights reinvented itself. Its new look started with a move in location, just two doors north.

The framing workshop and gallery moved to 209 S. Arlington Heights Road earlier this year, in part to make room for another business seeking showroom space, Mission Bay Multisport. It now occupies Grand Frame's former site, at 213 S. Arlington Heights Road.

"We flip-flopped," says Gary Grana, owner of Grand Frame. "They needed 3,400 square feet, and we wanted to upscale our store."

Check out their new store, which eliminated the office space to offer just as much gallery space -- with all new samples and granite tabletops -- while the majority of their workshop remains on the lower level.

"It's a much more efficient setup," Grana adds, "with a whole new modern design. We're thrilled."

Meantime, down the block, the owners of Mission Bay Multisport are making good use of their new venue. They feature as many as 100 different bikes on display, from children's and recreational models to high-end racing bikes, as well wetsuits and related clothing.

"We're a comprehensive bike shop, with both family and racing bikes," says manager Aaron Post.

The "multisport" name refers to the store's specialty in outfitting triathletes, for at least two parts of the event, the swim and the bike. For the run, they refer patrons to Runner's High 'n' Tri, at 121 W. Campbell St. in downtown Arlington Heights.

Post purchased the former Elgin store with his partners Troy Crady, and brothers Luke and Dave Remiasz, and they had been searching for an Arlington Heights location. Formerly, Post had managed the ABC Cyclery in downtown Arlington Heights.

"Ever since that store closed," Post says, "we've been looking for an opportunity to get a bike shop back into Arlington Heights."